0
0
Researchers are sounding the alarm on a critical but often overlooked issue in healthcare: malnutrition among the sick and elderly. According to a recent review published in the New England Journal of Medicine by experts from Uppsala University and the University of Gothenburg, up to half of all patients admitted to hospitals and other healthcare facilities suffer from malnutrition. This condition leads to unnecessary suffering, a poorer quality of life, and increased mortality rates.
The Hidden Epidemic
“Far too few patients are diagnosed with malnutrition. Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the condition remains a problem in healthcare and elderly care, not only in Sweden but worldwide,” says Tommy Cederholm, professor of clinical nutrition at Uppsala University. Along with Ingvar Bosaeus, a consultant at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Cederholm coauthored the review, which summarizes global research on malnutrition over the past 50 years, with a focus on the last five years.
In Sweden, it is estimated that between 5% and 10% of all older adults are malnourished. This figure skyrockets to 50% among patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities. Traditionally, weight loss and malnutrition in the elderly have been seen as natural consequences of aging or illness, but research now shows that underlying diseases often cause individuals to eat less, leading to a breakdown of bodily organs and tissues.
Consequences of Malnutrition
Malnutrition leads to severe health issues, including muscle atrophy, increased susceptibility to infections, prolonged hospital stays, and higher mortality rates. The lack of essential nutrients causes patients to lose weight and diminishes their ability to cope with everyday life.
However, there is hope. Recent large-scale clinical studies have shown that malnutrition can be reversed through relatively simple measures. Proper diagnosis and treatment, often involving dietitians and nutritional drinks, can slow weight loss and reduce mortality.
A Call to Action
The researchers emphasize that simple measures are often ignored in everyday healthcare. “With the exception of those in the advanced stages of terminal illnesses such as metastatic cancer, the vast majority of patients can be treated,” says Ingvar Bosaeus. He stresses the need for better implementation of these measures in Sweden and beyond.
Concrete steps to reduce suffering among older adults include early registration of malnutrition risk factors, monitoring weight loss and appetite, recommending nutrient-dense foods, and starting nutritional therapy early, using options like nutritional drinks.
“This knowledge must become a much more explicit component of both basic and specialist training for doctors and nurses,” Cederholm adds. By integrating this understanding into medical training and practice, healthcare professionals can significantly improve the quality of life for the elderly and reduce the burden of malnutrition on healthcare systems worldwide.
The review article from Uppsala University and the University of Gothenburg serves as a critical reminder that the fight against malnutrition is far from over. With greater attention and proper implementation of existing knowledge, the healthcare sector can make substantial strides in alleviating this pervasive issue.
